Pearl Jam’s latest album is their 12th studio album, I’ve spent some time going through it since its release on Friday. I have to say, it’s a really well-crafted record. It definitely warrants a listen even from non-Pearl Jam enthusiasts, because it’s so well done.

It is going to surprise some people how after all these years, they’re putting out such great tunes! Let’s take a look…

5 Standout moments from Pearl Jam’s latest album

In interviews that circulated before the release, the band noted that this was going to be a heavier record than people would expect.

When we got the first single “Dark Matter”. The self-titled track, it was being compared to songs off their debut album “Ten”.

Even I made a comparison between that single and the days of “Vs” and “Vitalogy” mixed together. It was brooding and angst-ridden with a thumping heavier riff. I just thought it could fit in that section of the Pearl Jam catalog.

However here’s the thing – Although I’ve done this plenty of times and will probably continue to do it, it’s never good to judge an upcoming release based on one or even two songs. You just don’t know what you’re going to get.

And although I stand by my description of the sound of the song “Dark Matter”, the album “Dark Matter” by Pearl Jam is a different story.

What’s so great to me is that this sounds like a Pearl Jam that has looked back on its catalog and reflected on what worked and what didn’t. The songs on “Dark Matter” are a reflection of that, with a little bit of something from every one of their eras.

And that’s hard to do. It’s fan-pleasing without feeling like they forced themselves to churn it out. It’s just so diverse and encompasses their whole career that it’s quite an impressive job!

So, let’s take a look at 5 Standout moments from Pearl Jam’s latest album.

An Honest Take On Pearl Jam’s New Song Dark Matter